Metallic-tread mat



HI E. GOTHBERG.

METALLIC TREAD MAT.

FILED FEB. l2, 1919.

Jan. 16, 1923.

BY 5PM ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNITED` STATES PATENT oi-EicE HERMAN E. GO'IHBERG, OF ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY.`

METALLIC-TREAD `1VIAT.

Appiication iiiedrebruary 12, 1919. serial-No. 276,643.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERMAN E. Gori-r- BERG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Roselle Park, county of Union, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic- Tread Mats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic tread mats and has for itsV primary object to pro.

.tween the units in adjacent rows and projecting above and below the opposite side faces of the matA so that said members will not only support the metal parts out of contact with the floor surface but will also afford a cushioning means which prevents direct contact of the shoes with the metal units of the mat. There is thus afforded a somewhat yieldingT tread surface so that the shock or jar which would otherwise be transmitted to the body of the person treading on the mat is minimized and excessive wear upon the shoes is also practically eliminated. Y

It is further a general object of my invention to provide a metallic tread I'nat having the above noted desirable features in the whichconstruction of which materials would otherwise be wasted may be utilized so that the mat as a whole may be manufactured at a cost not appreciably greater than is incurred in the production of the ordinary metallic mat of this character now known in the art.

Tith these and other objects.` in VeWf'alembodiment of my invention isv shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully dei scribed with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointedclaims.

In the accompanying drawing:

, Figure l is a plan View. Q a metallic tread out lin the shown in Figure of tlie drawing, said mat illustrating one practical embodiment vof my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof taken onthe line 2 2 of Figurel l; and c Figure 3 is a detail elevation of one of the friction members. f

Referring in detail to the `drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 designates the metallic units which together constitute thebody of the mat structure. Each of theseunits as shown in Figure l, consists of a sheet metalcstrip bent, preferably, into rectangular formand having the parallel longitudinal side, portions' 6 and the transverse portions 7 which are outwardly bent,A or bowed 4as shown. The extremities of the metal strip are arranged in lapping engagement, andl these extremities as well as the side portions `6 of the tread units` are formediwith openings to rei ceive the metal wire rods 8 which flexibly connect the several unitsof the matstructure tov each other. Asherell shown, the metal units 5 are arrangedin parallel rows, the units in one row alternating with respect to the units in they adj acentrows andbeing disposed with respect to `each other so that their several rod receiving openings are in registration to receive a ytie-rod extending across the entire widthof the mat. Each 'of these rodsis bent to provide parallel portions which connect o iielunitiin one row to two of the units in the adjacent rows. The terminals of the rod are inwardly bent and fitted within lthe'ends of a connecting sleeve (not: shown). It will, be understood that. this specific form of the metallic units and the method of their connection'which havey just described, constitutes no essential Lpart of the present invention which maybe adapte., ed and applied to metallic mat structures of this general character by resort vto such obvious modifications as mayiappear necessary.

The present improvement` consists inthe Vprovision of thev frictionmembers l0 which preferably, vrthough not necessary consist of a composition of rubberand canvas or other fabric- Each of these members is substantially of a length equal to'thelength ofthe niat units and they are preferably out out of a sheet of materialinthe shape yorform members .having. `a Waving oruiidiilating edge Surfaces. shore `f@it-,l,.1- i .Tbcsamcw bers i() are arranged asillustrated in Figure 1,` Ibetween the` metal units in' each row and the two contiguous units in an adjacent row and-have. openings litormcd in 5 their end portions for the reception oil the tie-rods S. Each unit bears against'one side' portion 6 of the metal units 5 in one row and in order to reinforcef the).1 iexible friction member and prevent the same from buckling lOf=betWeen the' adjacent tierods 8, a4 metal plate is associated with each unit'and at its en'dsiis disposed betweenthe contiguous units-oi' tlr'e'ad'ja'cent roW' andthe friction member, said lplatelikewise having openings Winch register with the openings ;1n the friction'memberi and'A receive" the tie-rods.

The' friction' members lO'fare preterably of such 1 WidthY i that their undulating longitudinal edges lprojectbeyond the correspondplates L 134A Thesei members may" be oii any desiredltlii=clcnes s',l tlfiough-I` have found in practice th'at'` a thickness of'V about one eighth of van inchf issuiiicie-ntfin order to afford'fa firm frictional contact upon the floor surface and `'the' 'desired l'cushioning function in the mat' structure. These mem-bers it) maybe-I cuty or stamped ou-t i'ionrfo-ld tire casings or formed frein other materials 3,0 which would otherwise beV a source ot waste l this type4 now apen; the f market.

Froml the'foregoing description:taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, thefconstil'uction aswell as'thel severaladvantages in practical use oil.` my improved 40 treadlmat, Will be clearlyand iully understood-41 l/Vhen the mat is arranged upon the floor surface; the frictienfmeinbers l()y engaging -suehl` -surface will eiiectually pre rent thelslipping or'sliding loffthe mat wl-ie-n'f'pres- 45- sure is-appliedthereon; by' the toot at an angle 'to thefperpendicular. Tl'iisis particularly truefW-hen the mat is used' 'oirnrarble 'oorszl Itis also Yseen that as the friction members support the metallic units oit the matstructure ont oi'rconta'ctmfitlr the tloor surface. the latter-will not-be scratched orI otherwise marred. Further. it is to be noted that thesefrictio-njinenrb'ers project abowf'e the upper edges of the metal units so thatl the sole of'thefshoeld'oes'net come inte direct* contact With'the-latter. Thus. the 'shoe will not be' unduly`vv Wornv and f the friction' inembers Which'are composed of rubber and fabric' afford" a"res'i'lientf cushion so that even "Whe1rthefo0t isp'laced upon the .mat with' considerable" force;- shoc-k or Jar'4 which wou] du otherwiseebefftransinitted to the body is to af` largee2':tent`elimlnated'.y A further ad: Vantage? incident i toY the! prmfisien*y of: the

until the projectingfportions of said mein bers have been completely Worn away.

In the preceding description and the accompanying drawings I have disclosed one practical embodiment oi' the invention, which, however, may likewise be exemplified'in numerous alternative constructitms.y

Accordingly the inxfention as herein claimed is to rbe considered -as inclusive ot all legitimate equivalents for the variouselements employed as Well as yother contemplated arrangements thereof,y which may satisfactorily accomplish the desired results.

Iclaim:

'1. A' mat comprising a'series oi rows of substantially rectangular links disposed in staggered relation Witlr'uniilled spaces Withinthefli'n-ks, flexible rods passing through the end portions of the links to secure same together, and elongated' narrow tread and supporting blocks situated outside thespaces confined u'ithin the links and eachl placed against one side ot a link with its'opposite end portions disposed vbeside the two end `portions ot adjoining staggered links, said bflockshaving corrugated upper andlower surfaces and being secured iny the matstrui ture by the passage therethrouglr of" said flexible rods, and'fp-lates also securedby7 the rods and extend-ing against the free sides o't the blocks opposite the spaces between the adjoiningstaggered links.

2'. A mat comprising aseries oilv rows ot' links being sufl'istantially rectangular and disposed in staggered relation` with? open unfilled ,sp-aces within tli'e'linlul,v 'flexible rods passingy through the end portions of the links to securesanle together. and elongated narrow tread and supporting bloc-ks situated ill outside the spaces contined within the links v and each placedagainst one side ot allink with its opposite end portionsdisposed `bcside tbe two cnil port-ions of adjoining staggered links. said blocks being iliade of'rcixu torr'cd-v resilient material haring corrugated linept-tr and lower edge portions |,iroiectiug above and belenthe normal plane of the matA struct-ure. said blocks beine` seem-ed in the niet by the Iliassage tberetbrougir oi'y said liexible rods"`r and lgmicking plates placed againstfthe free sides oit the links opposite the'spaces between `the adjoining staggered lin-ks and secured by the flexible rods.

In testimony that'he claims the foregoing as his invention, he= has signed his name hereunder.

HERMAN GOTHBLERG.

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